66 DATEGROWING 



than the one hundred." In cases where it is desired 

 to grow a secondary crop permanently, the palms may 

 advantageously be set still farther apart — for alfalfa, 

 twenty-six to the acre might not be too few. 



The ground should be thoroughly soaked several 

 times in succession before the shoots are planted, 

 and after that it must be kept constantly and evenly 

 moist. This irrigation of offshoots is, indeed, probably 

 the most delicate and laborious part of the whole 

 culture of the date, and on the unremitting care given 

 to it all future success depends. The rootlets of the 

 offshoots are extraordinarily delicate, and if they 

 are allowed to dry out even once during the hot sum- 

 mer, heavy loss will result. Their delicacy also makes 

 it essential to avoid giving the offshoot any shock 

 which may break them, either by plow or animal 

 when cultivating, or by shaking the top of the palm 

 to see whether it is sound, as anxious growers some- 

 times do. 



No general rule can be laid down for watering, as 

 it depends entirely on the nature of the soil. While 

 it should be kept moist, it must not be kept so satur- 

 ated as to prevent the air from getting in. In the 

 heavy clay of Baghdad one watering a week is enough; 

 in the light sand of some parts of the Sahara the 

 shoot is watered daily for the first forty days, after 

 which the supply is very slowly tapered off. In 

 Coachella Valley every other day or every third day 

 will ordinarily suffice; sometimes it works well to 

 water for two successive days and give none on the 

 third. The soil must be kept in a good state of 

 cultivation. 



It is customary to give the shoots some shade 

 during the summer, by tying old palm leaves, corn 



